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Multicultural Author Resource Packet: Pat Mora

Jan LawrenceRLA 527

Eastern Connecticut State UniversityOctober 12, 2009

Pat Mora - Biographical Information

Mora was born in El Paso, Texas in 1942 to Raul Antonio, an ophthalmologist, and Estella Delgado Mora. Her grandmother and her aunt also helped raise her. As a child, she spoke Spanish at home to her grandmother and her aunt, but tried to blend in and appear more “American” with her peers. She attended Roman Catholic grade school and devoured, equally, comic books, novels, and biographies of famous Americans. In high school she began to write poetry (Kumar, 2008, 154-155). She attended Texas Western College and received her undergraduate degree in 1963. She then taught in the El Paso Independent School District from 1963-1967. She received her Master’s degree in English and speech from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 1967. She later taught English and communications at El Paso Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso. After her divorce in 1981, she began to devote herself more seriously to writing. Her first collection of poems for adults, Chants, was published in 1984. She became a full-time writer in 1989. (Senick, 1999, 130)

Mora has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and grants, including two Southwest Book Awards for collections of her poetry—Chants (1984) and Borders (1986). In 1987, the Kellogg Foundation chose her as a National Fellow to encourage her work in cultural preservation. Mora has been a recipient and judge of the Poetry Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. She was the Carruthers Chair in Honors (Distinguished Visiting Professor) at the University of New Mexico, and she was recently awarded a Civitella Ranieri Fellowship to write in Italy.

She has taken an active role within the El Paso and UTEP communities, notably as director of the university museum, as assistant to the president at UTEP, and as a consultant to U.S.-Mexico youth-exchange programs.

Mora's poetry often springs from her geographical surroundings: the high desert that extends from Mexico in the south to the Rocky Mountains in the north, creating a common bond between two countries and two diverse cultures. In viewing Mexican and American experience, she chooses to emphasize the harmony rather than the disharmony between the two countries and between Hispanic and Anglo cultures within the United States. While she does not avoid addressing negative aspects of life along the border, she also affirms the creative and regenerative forces that the desert's natural grandeur brings to its inhabitants.

Pat Mora has dedicated much of her professional life to the preservation of her culture. Believing that people's sense of identity is firmly rooted in their culture, she has worked to raise awareness among Mexican Americans of the rich history and traditions that make up their heritage. Her artistic goals are similar: to write about the Mexican American experience not only as a contemporary phenomenon but also as the culmination of centuries-old values, languages, and customs.

Pat Mora Resource Packet, 1

Mora currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she writes and actively promotes April 30 as El día de los niños / El día de los libros, a celebration of children's books, languages, and cultures. (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 2010)

Quick Facts

E-mail address [email protected].

Hobbies and other interests include reading, walking, cooking, gardening, museums, traveling, visiting with family and friends.

From 1963-1967 she taught in the El Paso Independent School District.

Became full-time writer in 1989.

She wrote her first children’s book, A Birthday Basket for Tia, in 1992.

Is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Academy of American Poets, International Reading Association, National Association of Bilingual Educators, Texas Institute of Letters, Friends of the Santa Fe Library, Museum of New Mexico Foundation, Spanish Colonial Arts Society, and National Council of La Raza.

Mora told Something about the Author, “I enjoy writing poems, nonfiction, and stories for children and adults. Many of my book ideas come from the desert where I grew up, the open spaces, wide sky, all that sun and all the animals that scurry across the hot sand or fly high over the mountains.”

A former teacher, university administrator, museum director, and consultant, Pat is a popular national speaker at conferences, campuses, libraries and schools. The mother of three adult children, she is married to Vern Scarborough and lives in Santa Fe, NM.


mailto:[email protected]

Literature by Pat Mora

CHILDREN’S BOOKS: POETRY

Mora, Pat. (2009). BOOK FIESTA! Celebrate Children’s Day/ Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros. Ill. Rafael López. Rayo: HarperCollins.

Kids’ Day? “Hooray! Today is our day, El día de los niños,” begins this bilingual celebration to use throughout the year and certainly on April 30th. The book can be sung or used for choral reading and includes an author note about Día along with suggested activities. Grades: pre-K – 3.

Mora, Pat. (1995). Confetti: Poems for Children. Illus. Enrique O. Sánchez. New York: Lee & Low Books.

This book captures the rhythms and pleasures in the day of a Mexican-American girl. “This collection of poems is as much fun to look at as it is to read . . . . A good choice for choral reading or reading aloud.” Booklist. Grades: 1-4.

Mora, Pat & Nora, Alba. (1998). Delicious Hullabaloo: Pachanga deliciosa. Ill.Francisco X. Mora. Houston: Piñata Books.

Inspired by the playful animals of Mexican artist Francisco X. Mora, Pat created a humorous fiesta at which animals make merry. “Lime lizards and purple armadillos sashayto the music and rhyming text in this simple story of a desert dinner party.” Booklist. Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (1994). The Desert Is My Mother: El desierto es mi madre. Illus. Daniel Lechón. Houston: Piñata Books.

This extended poem conveys a young girl’s close relationship to the desert that nurtures her. “With a playful text, this bilingual picture book celebrates a child’s connection with her desert home . . . . The feelings are universal, the words precise and physical.” Booklist. Grades: pre-K – 3.

Mora, Pat. (2009). Gracias! Thanks! Ill. John Parra. New York: Lee & Low.

In a light-hearted prayer, a Latino boy gives thanks for the blessings in his day from a ladybug to his family. The book invites readers to reflect on what they’re grateful for and perhaps to write down their blessings, including the humorous ones. Grades: pre-K – 2.


Mora, Pat. (2008). Join Hands: The Ways We Celebrate Life. Photographs by George Ancona.Watertown: Charlesbridge Publishing.

This extended poem written in the rhyming, rhythmic Malay form, the pantoum, is enhancedwith expressive photographs of America’s diverse children. They come together to sing, dance, and play in this tribute to community. Savor seeing the energy of children rejoicing with friends. Grades: K - 3.

Mora, Pat. (2001). Love to Mamá: a Tribute to Mothers. Ill. Paula S. Barragán. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Starred review, School Library Journal. “In a beautiful tribute to mothers, grandmothers and care-giving women, 13 poets write with joy, humor, and love about the maternal bond. . . . This is that rare book that will resonate across age ranges and cultures to appeal to the common human experience. A tour de force.” Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (2006). ¡Marimba! Animales A – Z. Ill. Doug Cushman. New York: Clarion.

Savor the English and Spanish cognates in this alphabet zoo romp. “It’s time for the sloths to salsa, the coyotes to conga, the hippopotami to hula in this rollicking story of a marimba playingmonkey that gets everyone on their feet to dance.” Ohioana Quarterly. Grades: pre-K – 1.

Mora, Pat. (2009). A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Illus. MagalyMorales. New York: Clarion.

This version of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” includes words in Spanish and holiday elementspopular in Latino holiday celebrations such as pastelitos (little pies) and pajaritos (little birds).A joyful opportunity to sing an old favorite while learning (or practicing) Spanish. Grades: pre-K – 3.

Mora, Pat. (2005). The Song of Francis and the Animals .Ill. David Frampton. Grand Rapids: Erdmans.

This book captures the harmony possible between humans and the natural world. “Mora praises in poetry Saint Francis’ calming way of communing with creatures great and small in this celebratory picture book made all the more joyous by handsome coloredwoodcuts.” Publishers Weekly. Grades: pre-K – 3.


Mora, Pat. (1998). The Big Sky. Ill. Steve Jenkins. New York: Scholastic.

This poetry collection is a praise song to the desert landscape and its denizens. “Mora celebratesAmerica’s vast, otherworldly Southwest in 14 poems that will delight readers of all ages with their playfully evocative imagery.” Grades: 2 – 5.

Mora, Pat. (1996). Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three. Ill. Barbara Lavalee. New York: Clarion.

Two girls enjoy shopping at a Mexican market for Mamá’s present. “Robust and radiant, thiscounting book celebrates the gift of being bilingual and will add multicultural authenticitywith a Mexican flavor to any collection.” Booklist. New York: Clarion.Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (2007). Yum! ¡Mmmm! ¡Qué rico! America’s Sproutings. New York: Lee & Low.

“This inventive stew of food haiku celebrates the indigenous foods of the Americas.” Starredreview, Booklist. The book visually reveals how foods delights and unites us as families andcommunities. Illus. Rafael López. Lee & Low.Grades: pre-K – 3.

Mora, Pat. (2001). My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults, 1984-1999. Ill. Anthony Accardo. Houston: Piñata Books.

Interlaced with Mexican phrases and cultural symbols, these powerful selections, representing more than 15 years of work, address bicultural life and the meaning of family. Mora speaks very much from an adult perspective, but her poems are about universal experiences--the pleasures of eating pizza and mango, and the cultural significance of both; the wrenching experience of witnessing poverty.Grades: 4 – 7.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS: PICTURE BOOKS

Mora, Pat. (2010). Abuelos. Ill. Amelia Lau Carling. Toronto: Groundwood Books.

Amelia and Ray are excited and a bit scared. Will Los Abuelos, the sooty, mountain men,really come this year to the small pueblo in New Mexico where Amelia and her brother Raynow live? Neighbors say Los Abuelos appear every winter squealing, “Ooooo, ooooo, ooooo.”Grades: 2-4.


Mora, Pat. (1994). Agua, Agua, Agua. Ill. by José Ortega. Reading: GoodYear Books.

Pat’s only board book is a simple retelling of an Aesop’s fable that she sets in the Southwestdesert. Toddlers enjoy and quickly learn the easy repetition. Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (2001). The Bakery Lady/La señora de la pa nadería. Ill. Pablo Torrecilla. Houston: Piñata Books.

Will Mónica find the tiny figure in her Rosca de Reyes, Three Kings’ Ring? “Mora has once again succeeded in writing a warm family story that includes information about Mexican traditions and celebrations while appealing to the common elements that link people acrosscultures.” School Library Journal. Grades: 1 – 3.

Mora, Pat. (1997). A Birthday Basket for Tía. Ill. Cecily Lang. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Based on a party given for her own aunt, Pat’s first children’s book captures the excitement of a ninetieth surprise birthday party. “Mora’s simple text exemplifies the best of recent multicultural publishing. An honest, child-centered story.” The Horn Book.Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (2005). Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart. Ill. Raul Colón. New York: Knopf.

“Doña Flor, beautiful giantess of the American Southwest, is so tall she plucks estrellas fromthe sky and grabs snow from mountaintops to wake herself up in the morning. Her tortillas areso big that her neighbors use the extra ones as roofs.” Kirkus Reviews. Grades: pre-K – 3.

Mora, Pat. & Berg, Charles Ramírez. (1995). The Gift of the Poinsettia: El regalo de la flor de noche buena. Ill. Daniel Lechón. Houston: Piñata Books.

Based on a Mexican folktale about the origin of the poinsettia, the book is a reminder that love is our most important gift. Interwoven into the story is the tradition of las posadas. Music included.“This book belongs among your favorite library stories.” -- Southwest Children’s Review. Grades: 4 – 7.


Mora, Pat. (2002). A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inés Tomás Rivera. Ill. Beatriz Vidal. New York: Knopf.

“This . . . picture-book biography of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz . . . introduces . . . audiences to an important figure in Mexico’s literary history . . . who even as a child loved books. [S]he is portrayed as fun-loving, energetic, and creative.” The Horn Book. Grades: 2 – 4.

Mora, Pat. (1994). Listen to the Desert: Oye al desierto. Ill. Francisco X. Mora. New York: Clarion.

“The sounds of the desert can be heard in this bilingual story as an owl hoots, a toad hops,and a snake hisses. . . . Librarians will want to use this title with story time groups, whoseparticipants will enjoy pointing out the animals pictured and making the appropriate noises.”School Library Journal. Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (2002). Maria Paints the Hills. Paintings by Maria Hesch. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press.

“This little book, both children’s literature and history. . . . paints a charming verbal portraitfrom the perspective of a little girl….Maria Hesch (1909-1994) . . . a self-taught artist . . . known as Santa Fe’s Grandma Moses.”New Mexico Magazine “Pat Mora’s words flow like honey.” Rudolfo Anaya. Grades: 2 – 6.

Mora, Pat. (2000). The Night the Moon Fell. (La noche que se cayó la luna.) Ill. Domi. Toronto: Groundwood.

In this version of a Maya myth, the spunky moon makes an archetypal journey from sky to sea. “The descriptive writing imbues both Luna and fish with character . . . and gives the story enough drama to engage young readers and listeners . . . masterfully presented.” School Library Journal. Grades: K – 3.

Mora, Pat. (1994). Pablo’s Tree. Ill. Cecily Lang. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Américas Award Commended List. “This is a warm and gentle story, the tree-surprise aspect gives the tale a pleasing sparkle, and the characters provide a nice complement to all the WASP-y, Norman Rockwell families inan adoption book—the family is Latino and mom is a single parent.” The Bulletin of the Centerfor Children’s Books. Grades: pre-K – 3.


Mora, Pat. (1995). The Race of Toad and Deer. Illus. Maya Itzna Brooks. New York: Orchard Books.

This folktale is a cautionary story about the danger of boasting. In this Guatemalan variationof the tortoise-and-hare fable, the laurels go not to virtuous persistence but to crafty teamwork. Lightly peppered with Spanish expressions, the text is organically bicultural. Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (1999). The Rainbow Tulip. Illus. Elizabeth Sayles. New York: Viking.

In this true story about Pat’s mother in first grade, a child experiences the difficulties of being different and the comfort of her mother’s support. “Set in El Paso, Texas, this moving family memoir focuses on Mora’s mother as a child who participated in her own way in the May parade . . . . With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity.Grades: K – 3.

Mora, Pat. (1997). Tomás and the Library Lady. (Tomás y la señora de la biblioteca). Ill. Raúl Colón. New York: Knopf.

This is a story of one summer in the life of a migrant child who journeys from Texas to Iowa. This powerful story is based on the boyhood of Tomás Rivera who would grow to become Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside. Grades: 2 – 4.

Mora, Pat. (2007). Let’s Eat! / ¡A comer! Ill. Mirabel Suarez, New York: Rayo/HarperCollins.

Meet Isabel, Tina, Danny and their family and pets. “We’re rich, aren’t we, Dad?” asks Tina.Yes, the Rosas family is rich in love and laughter.Grades: pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (2008). Sweet Dreams / Dulces sueños. Ill. Mirabel Suarez. New York: Rayo/HarperCollins.

As Grandma/Abuelita is putting her grandchildren to sleep, squirrels, bunnies and birds are also going to sleep outside.Grades: Pre-K – 2.


Mora, Pat. (2008). Here, Kitty, Kitty! / ¡Ven, gatita, ven! Ill. Mirabel Suarez. New York: Rayo/HarperCollins.

Can the three Rosas children gently catch their elusive new kitten? Watch it hide!Grades: Pre-K – 2.

Mora, Pat. (2009). Wiggling Pockets / ¡Los bolsillos se mueven! Ill. Mirabel Suarez. New York: Rayo/HarperCollins.

What’s wiggling in Danny’s pockets? Look out for the jump-jump-jumping surprise!Grades: Pre-K – 2.

ADULT BOOKS: POETRY

Mora, Pat. (2006). Adobe Odes. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

Enjoy a mix of aromas, tastes, colors and sounds. Inspired by Pablo Neruda’s Odas elemantalesand reinvented with a Latina identity, this collection celebrates the ordinary—dandelions,chocolate, chile, guacamole. “Mora celebrates the ordinary in unordinary lyrics.” PublishersWeekly.

Mora, Pat. (1995). Agua Santa: Holy Water. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

Many voices fill this collection including women in Mexico’s past, in contemporary Latin America, and children on the border. “Ms. Mora’s poems are proudly bilingual, an eloquent answer to purists who refuse to see language as something that lives and changes.” New York Times Book Review.

Mora, Pat. (1997). Aunt Carmen’s Book of Practica l Saints. Boston: Beacon Press.

Meet Aunt Carmen, sacristan and grandmother who struggles to understand goodness and faith. Listen to her humorous conversations with the saints. “This is a tender and touching book that celebrates the secular and the divine.” The New Mexican. Beautiful folk art images. Mora, Pat. (1984). Chants. Houston: Arte Público Press.

Pat’s first book is a song to the Southwest desert and its people. The desert’s magical presence, a grand teacher, offers strength and grandeur. “[Mora’s] poems are beautiful flowers on a paintedlandscape . . . chants to hold the reader mesmerized.” Nuestro. Mora, Pat. (1991). Communion. Houston: Arte Público Press.

This collection, which includes poems about India, Pakistan, Peru and the Dominican Republic, reflects Pat’s international concerns and continues her celebration of women and their strength.


“Mora’s imagery contributes intensity to her spare and minimalist poems .... [Mora’s] poems both instruct and delight.” Texas Books in Review.

Mora, Pat. (1986). Borders. Houston: Arte Público Press.

This collection explores political, geographical, gender, and family borders; the friction and power of proximity. “What finally gives this book its healing power is the mesmerizing honesty of Mora’s celebration of herself as a woman, mother, lover.” The Bloomsbury Review.

ADULT BOOKS: NON-FICTION

Mora, Pat. (2009). House of Houses. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

Premio Aztlán Literature Award.This acclaimed memoir welcomes the reader into a home inhabited by many generations. Even saints visit occasionally. “Pat Mora’s richly sensual family memoir is a textual feast . . . . aneloquent bearer of the old truth that it is through the senses that we apprehend love.” The Washington Post Book World. Includes photographs. Reading Group Guide on Pat’s web site.

Mora, Pat. (1993). Nepantla: Essays from the Land in the Middle. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

Pat explores her persistent interests including cultural conservation, bilingualism, family, women, education and leadership in this collection first published in 1993. “Twenty inspiring essays written in very poetic prose . . . A valuable contribution to American literature in general, and to Chicano and Mexican American letters.” Choice.


Pat Mora’s Awards

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL HONORS

Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, North Carolina State University, 2008

Honorary Member of the American Library Association, 2008

Honorary Doctorate of Letters, State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo, 2006

Distinguished Alumna, University of Texas at El Paso, 2004

Carruthers Chair Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of New Mexico, 1999

FELLOWSHIPS

Civitella Ranieri Fellowship, Umbria, Italy, 2003

National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship in Poetry, 1994

Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship, 1986

LITERARY AWARDS

Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Letters, 2008

The University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for Outstanding Contributions to Children's Literature, Hattiesburg, 2008 (photo at right)

Roberta Long Medal for Distinguished Contributions to Celebrating the Cultural Diversity of Children, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007

National Hispanic Cultural Center Literary Award, 2006


"Literary Light for Children," Associates of the Boston Public Library, 2002

"100 Library Champions" Texas Library Association's Centennial, 2002

Ohioana Award for Children's Literature, 2000

Poetry Award, Conference of Cincinnati Women, 1990

Authors of the Pass: El Paso Herald-Post Writers Hall of Fame, 1988

Elected to the Texas Institute of Letters, 1987

Creative Writing Award, National Association for Chicano Studies, 1983

Poetry Award, New America: Women Artists and Writers of the Southwest, 1982

ADULT BOOK AWARDS

Adobe Odes (University of Arizona Press) Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Poetry Award, 2008 International Latino Book Award, Best Poetry in English, 2007 WILLA Literary Award Finalist, Women Writing the West, 2007 Bronze Medal in Poetry, Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) Spur Poetry Finalist, Western Writers of America, 2007

Selections from “Adobe Odes,” Pellicer-Frost Bi-national Poetry Award, 1999

House of Houses (Beacon Press) Southwest Book Award, Border Regional Library Association, 1997 Premio Aztlán Literature Award, 1997

Borders (Arte Público Press) Southwest Book Award, Border Regional Library Association, 1987

Chants (Arte Público Press) Southwest Book Award, Border Regional Library Association, 1985 Harvey L. Johnson Book Award, Southwest Council of Latin American Studies, 1984


YOUNG ADULT BOOK AWARDS

My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults (Piñata/Arte Público Press) The New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age List, 2001 Tayshas Reading List, Young Adult Round Table, Texas Library Association, 2001-2002 Finalist, Writers’ League of Texas, 2001

CHILDREN'S BOOKS (in alphabetical order)

Abuelos (Groundwood Books) International Latino Book Award for Best Children's Picture Book, 2009

The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panadería (Piñata Books/Arte Público Press) Latino Literary Hall of Fame, Second Place, Children’s Picture Book Category, 2002

A Birthday Basket for Tía (Simon & Schuster) Utah Governor’s September Children’s Book-of-the-Month, 2004 Southwest Book Award, Border Regional Library Association, 1994

This Big Sky (Scholastic) Book Publishers of Texas Award, Best Book for Children or Young People, Texas Institute of Letters, 1999 Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, American Library Association, 1999 Finalist in the Children’s Literature, PEN Center West, 1999 “One Hundred Books for Reading and Sharing,” The New York Public Library, 1998

Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day/ Book Day Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros. New York: HarperCollins Children's Books. ALA Notable Book, 2010 CCBC Choices, 2010 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2010 Belpré Illustrator Medal Book, 2010 Américas Award, Commended List, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2010

Confetti: Poems for Children (Lee & Low Books) Arizona Governor’s Book Award, 2004 Notable Books for a Global Society, International Reading Association, 1996 CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children’s Book Center), 1996 Américas Award, Commended List, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1996


The Desert Is My Mother: El desierto es mi madre (Piñata Books/Arte Público Press) Honor Award in Nature and Ecology, Skipping Stones Magazine, 1995

Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart (Knopf) Golden Kite Award, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), 2005 ALA Notable Books, American Library Association (ALA), 2006 Pura Belpré Honor Award (narrative), 2006 New York Public Library Books for Reading and Sharing, 2005 Nick Jr. Magazine Best Book, 2005

Gracias~Thanks (Lee & Low Books) ALA Notable Book, 2010 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List, 2010 CCBC Choices, 2010 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration, 2009 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book, 2010 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2010

Let's Eat ¡A comer! (HarperCollins Children's Books/Rayo) Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List, 2009 Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books, 2008

A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inéz (Knopf) Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, Southwest Texas State University, 2003 Amelia Bloomer Project Recommended List, Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association, 2004 Americas Commended List, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2003

Love to Mamá (Lee & Low Books) Parent’s Guide Children’s Media Award, 2001 Outstanding Merit, Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2001 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, NCSS/CBC, 2001

Maria Paints the Hills (Museum of New Mexico Press) Texas Institute of Letters, Finalist, Austin Public Library Award for Best Children’s Book, 2003

Marimba! Animales A-Z (Clarion Books) Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007

Pablo's Tree (Simon & Schuster) Américas Award, Commended List, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1994


Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas (Clarion Books) Américas Award, Commended List, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2010

The Song of Francis and the Animals (Eerdmans Books) Second Place, Children’s Books, The Catholic Press Association, 2006 Special Recognition, Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, 2006

Tomás and the Library Lady Selected for Arlington Reads, 2005 Texas Bluebonnet Master List, 1999-2000 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, Southwest Texas State University, 1998 Teachers' Choices, International Reading Association, 1998 Honor Award in the Multicultural and International category. Skipping Stones Magazine, 1998 Notable Books for Children, Smithsonian, 1997 Nebraska Golden Sower Nominee, 1999-2000 Américas Award Commended List, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1997

Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! America's Sproutings Américas Award, 2008 ALA Notable, 2008 Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books, 2008 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008 Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) Master List, 2008-2009 Lasting Connections, Book Links, 2007 Great Lakes Great Books Award Master List, 2008/2009


Websites that Support Pat Mora’s Work

1. Author’s Websitehttp://www.patmora.com/

2. Share Bookjoy Blog – Pat’s blog http://sharebookjoy.blogspot.com

3. El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), known as Día, is a celebration EVERY DAY of children, families, and reading that culminates every year on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/index.cfm

4. Teaching Books.nethttp://www.teachingbooks.net/authorsearch.cgi?id=863

5. ¡Colorín Colorado!http://www.colorincolorado.org/read/meet/mora

6. Reading Rocketshttp://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/mora


http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/mora

http://www.colorincolorado.org/read/meet/mora

http://www.teachingbooks.net/authorsearch.cgi?id=863

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/index.cfm

http://sharebookjoy.blogspot.com/

http://www.patmora.com/

Learning Activities/Lesson PlanElementary School Level

Classroom Guide for Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers

Edited by Pat Mora, illustrated by Paula S. Barragán

Reading Level*Reading Level: Grade 3Interest Level: Grades 1-6Guided Reading Level: RAccelerated Reader® Level/Points: 4.5/0.5

*Reading level based on the Spache Readability Formula

ThemesMothers and Grandmothers, Love, Family, Admiration, Latino Heritage

SynopsisAlthough the poems in this book are about mothers and grandmothers, the writers of the poems include both men and women of Latino descent. Love, humor, understanding, and joy all have their place in these works. They convey exuberance and warmth of familial feelings. The poems, with a free use of Spanish words and phrases tucked into them, convey a vivid sense of a cultural heritage. The poets represent a wide spectrum of Latino voices, from award-winning writers to a fifteen-year-old high school student, and their poems bring forth memories and contemporary events from their Puerto Rican, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Mexican American backgrounds. Of this book, the editor Pat Mora says, “Poems, like music, carry us to the deep feelings we hide inside. All the talented Latino poets in this book wrote to share their love for their mothers and grandmothers. . . . All are proud to be Latino writers.”

BackgroundPat Mora, a renowned poet of works for both children and adults, helped establish April 30th as Día de los niños/Día de los libros (Day of the Children/Day of the Books). This occasion is a yearly celebration of childhood, books, languages, and cultures. Its goal is to encourage bilingual literacy among all children. Mora recalls her own mother who “in English or Spanish . . . could make words flow or fly” and an aunt who “read us books and told us stories in English and Spanish when we were in bed at night.”

Teaching Tip Plan to use Love to Mamá as part of your celebration of National Poetry Month in April. You may also want to use it again in May for Mother’s Day.


1. Reading Lesson Plan (Grades: 3 - 5)

Pre-reading Focus QuestionsBefore introducing the book, you may wish to have students discuss one or more of the following questions as a motivation for reading.

What do you like about poetry? Do you have a favorite poem? What is it? How would you honor or celebrate a parent? Should poems always rhyme? Have you ever read any that don’t? What were they like?

Were they easier or more difficult to understand than poems that rhyme? How do you show What is special about a mother? A grandmother? what you are feeling about someone? Have you ever expressed your feelings in poetry?

What do you think of the experience of writing poetry?

Exploring the BookDisplay the book and read the title, including the subtitle. Ask students what a tribute is. How do you pay tribute to someone?

Review the parts of the book including the dedications, introduction by the editor at the beginning of the book, biographical information about the poets and illustrator, and glossary of Spanish words at the back of the book. Talk about how each of these items will help students gain meaning and enhance their enjoyment of the poems.

Setting a Purpose for ReadingAsk students to think about why the poets wrote these poems and why Pat Mora collected them into this book.

Have students discuss what they think they might learn from this book.

VocabularyPoint out that many of the poems in this book include the names of colors. These are used in different ways to create pictures in the reader’s mind. Some of the colors mentioned are:

gold brown silver sky bluegreen bright yellow pink graywhite yellow white orange red

Have students read these poems, and then tell how the color words add to the picture painted by the poet.

“Palomitá”“Mi mamá cubana”“Hidden in Abuelita’s Soft Arms”“Abuelita Wears a Dress”


“Song to Mothers”“My Grandmother Had One Good Coat”

After ReadingDiscussion QuestionsAfter students have read the book, use these or similar questions to help guide their understanding of the book. Encourage students to refer to passages in the book to support their responses.

In “Palomita,” why is the little girl happy? Why do you think Abuela decides to enter Fina in “The Race?” What is the setting for the stories the grandmothers tell in “Las abuelitas?” Who does the child in “Growing Up” want to be like? Why? How is the grandmother in “Mi abuela” different from other grandmothers? In what ways

is she like or not like your grandmother(s)? Why does the boy think he is a millionaire in “My Tongue Is Like a Map?” How do you think the child feels in “I Helped My Mom Not to Be Late for Work?” How

does the mother feel? Why does the child in “Mi mamá cubana” thank her mother? Why does the grandmother pick prickly pears in “My Grandmother Is Like a Flowering

Cactus?” Why does the boy run from his father’s station wagon in “Hidden in Abuelita’s Soft

Arms?” Why is everyone surprised when the grandmother dresses up in “Abuelita Wears a

Dress?” Why does the grandmother give away her coat in “My Grandmother Had One Good

Coat?” Why does the poet like the mother’s laugh in “Songs to Mothers?”

2. Literature Circles (Grades 4 – 5)

If you use literature circles during reading time, students might find the following suggestions helpful in focusing on the different roles of the group members.

The Questioner might use questions similar to those in the Discussion Questions section of this guide to help group members explore the poems. Encourage students to make up other questions as well.

The Passage Locator might look for lines or phrases that reveal certain feelings such as pride or joy.

The Illustrator might draw pictures showing his or her personal interpretation of one or more of the poems.


The Connector might find examples of poems written about mothers and grandmothers by people representing other cultures.

The Summarizer might provide a brief summary of each poem for the group. The Investigator might find additional books by Pat Mora.

There are many resource books available with more information about organizing and implementing literature circles. Three such books you may wish to refer to are: Getting Started with Literature Circles by Katherine L. Schlick Noe and Nancy J. Johnson (Christopher-Gordon, 1999), Literature Circles: Voice And Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups by Harvey Daniels (Stenhouse, 2002), and Literature Circles Resource Guide by Bonnie Campbell Hill, Katherine L. Schlick Noe, and Nancy J. Johnson (Christopher-Gordon, 2000).

3. Reader's Response (Grades: 3 – 5)Use the following questions or similar ones to help students engage with the story and personalize the text. Students might respond in reader’s journals, oral discussion, or drawings.

Which poem in this book is your favorite? Why? How do the poems help you understand Latino culture? How are some of the poems like little stories? How are some of the poems like snapshots of a moment in time? Which poems make you smile or laugh? Which ones are more serious? Think about some of the poem titles. How can a tongue be like a map? Why is the

grandmother like a flowering cactus?

ELL/ESL Teaching StrategiesApproximately 300 foreign languages are spoken in the United States. Almost ten million children between the ages of five and seventeen speak a language other than English at home. Of these, about seven million speak Spanish. The following strategies will be useful in addressing the needs of students who are English language learners or who speak English as a second language.

Draw attention to the glossary of Spanish words and phrases at the back of the book. Invite Spanish speakers to pronounce the words for the rest of the class. Have students make an index card for each glossary entry, putting the Spanish word on one side and the English meaning on the other. Students can then use these as flash cards.

1. English speakers will need to use context to understand many of the Spanish words embedded in the poems. Have volunteers “think aloud” as they do this to provide modeling for ELL and ESL students who need strategies for reading.

2. Pair strong English speakers with Spanish speakers to make recordings of the poems. Both partners will benefit from following along in the book as they listen to the poems.


Interdisciplinary ActivitiesTo help students integrate their reading experiences with other curriculum areas, you might try some of the following activities.

4. Language Arts (Grades 4 – 6)

The poems in this book offer many examples of similes. Explain that a simile is a comparison of unlike things. Similes use the words like or as to compare things. Give as an example this simile from “Palomita:” a shower of sunlight falling like drops of gold. Then have students name the things being compared (sunlight and gold). Write the following similes on the chalkboard and challenge students to identify what they compare. Follow up by asking students to write their own similes.

My ears were like a radio from “My Tongue Is Like a Map” his smile is wider than a slice of watermelon from “Mi mamá cubana” black buttons shiny as patent leather shoes from “My Grandmother Had One Good

Coat”

her house painted yellow-white like a forgotten Easter egg from “Hidden in Abuelita’s Soft Arms”

5. Social Studies (Grades 3 – 5)

On a map of Central and South America, including the Caribbean islands, have students locate the places of origin represented by some of the poets and the illustrator. These include Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, and Ecuador.

Point out that in the poem “Abuelita Wears a Dress,” the grandmother is going to a celebration called a quinceañera. Have students do research to find out more about this traditional occasion. Then help students compare a quinceañera to celebrations in other cultures and religions that take place during the teenage years.

6. Science (Grades 3 – 4)Review with students the five senses: sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell. Mention that many of the poems evoke these senses. On poster paper, create a chart like the one shown here. Include an example as shown. Have students find other examples in the poems to add to the chart.

Sight Touch Hearing Taste Smell “On the wall there are pictures of Mama and my two aunts.” (from “Hidden in Abuelita’s Soft Arms”)

“their smooth branches” (from “Las abuelitas”)

“She whispered in my ear” (from “I Helped My Mom Not to Be Late for Work”)

“I taste salty, saffron Cuba” (from “Mi mamá cubana”)

“She sniffed the rose” (from “The Race”)


References

Kumar, L. (Ed.). (2008). Something about the author. (Vol. 186, pp. 152-158). Farmington Hills:

The Gale Group, Inc.

Lee & Low Books. (2008). ‘Love to Mama’ Teacher’s Guide. Retrieved from

http://www.leeandlow.com/images/pdfs/mama.pdf on October 1, 2010.

Mora, Pat. (2010). Official home page of Pat Mora. Retrieved September 28, 2010, from

http://www.patmora.com/ .

Senick, G. (Ed.). (1999). Children’s Literature Review. (Vol. 58, pp. 130-138). Farmington Hills:

The Gale Group, Inc.

Holt, Rinehart & Winston. (2010). Author biography: Pat Mora. Retrieved from

http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/authorbios/index2.jsp?author=9patmora on October 1, 2010.


http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/authorbios/index2.jsp?author=9patmora

http://www.patmora.com/

http://www.leeandlow.com/images/pdfs/mama.pdf

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